http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
BASED ON THE CAMPAIGN dialogue of the presidential races there
appears to be a serious gap between the issues candidates are discussing
and those that the victor will likely face in office.

Perhaps one reason for this variance is that the electorate is
anesthetized by a thriving economy and peace in our times. In fact, a
recent story in USA Today revealed that no particular issues are
dominating the minds of voters this year. Aside from social and moral
issues, it's awfully easy to be complacent if you live in the United
States in the year 2000.

Far be it from me to knock prosperity but I do think the good times
we are currently enjoying are having a surreal effect on public
perception, and therefore on the presidential campaign.

Because of persistent growth without inflation for all but two of the
last 18 years, and the tremendous growth in the stock market, we are an
incomparably wealthy nation.

The economy has been so robust that economic issues are virtually
"off the table." Oh yes, Al Gore promises that under his administration
"we can do even better," and Bill Bradley complains of pockets of
poverty. And Republicans are debating their tax plans, but not in the
context of their potential impact on the economy.

I'm not saying that the candidates are offering no proposals that
will affect our economy. To the contrary, almost every one of their
programs would involve the expenditure of federal money. It's just that,
with certain exceptions, they are not talking about economic policy --
how we can keep the economy growing. They are simply proceeding under
the assumption that the economy will continue to hum along and inflation
will remain in check regardless of monetary (Federal Reserve) or fiscal
(tax and spend) policy. This is a reckless assumption.

A similar phenomenon is occurring in the area of foreign policy.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, our flawless victory
in the Gulf War, and our casualty-free intervention in Kosovo, we seem
to be lulled into the proverbial "false sense of security."

Apart from certain discussions about China and Taiwan, the campaign
rhetoric is giving short shrift to foreign policy concerns. We used to
discuss foreign affairs in terms of relationships and alliances among
nations, geopolitical strategies and nuclear proliferation. Now the
closest we come to approaching foreign policy is in talks of
international trade and environmental treaties.

Unfortunately, the facility and impunity with which President Clinton
has skated through his terms of office may lead to wrong conclusions. It
is wonderful to be enjoying peace and prosperity, but we cannot expect
them to continue on autopilot indefinitely, irrespective of the policy
actions of our government.

Clinton also acquired the mightiest military in world history from
Reagan and Bush and was able to use its high-tech weapons like toys
every time it suited his needs. But his excessive deployment has
undercut our military readiness to an alarming degree.

The next president will not be so lucky. He will be bequeathed a
desperately ailing military that will require a massive injection of
capital. Continual underfunding of our forces is not an option because
the next commander in chief will face increasing:

Tensions in the Mideast whether or not current negotiations
ripen into some settlement

Terrorist activities

Conflict between China and Taiwan

Hostility from Iraq and North Korea

Instability and unpredictability in Russia

Arsenals of nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue nations

The next president will also likely encounter the ongoing
erosion of our society's moral fabric with the now all too familiar
consequences.

We live in a dynamic world. The problems it serves up to the 43rd
United States president may be completely different from those we are
anticipating and electing him to tackle. We better elect someone who has
the judgment, maturity, stability and character to adapt and
lead.

JWR contributor
David Limbaugh
is an
attorney
practicing in
Cape Girardeau,
Missouri,
and a
political
analyst
and
commentator. Send your comments to him by clicking here.